But you know what? Those speakers could look better. Sure, they're minimalist and that makes them perfect as unobtrusive background helper gadgets, but sometimes you want to punch things up visually. That's why almost from the get-go, there have been plenty of printable "skins" online for the original Amazon Echo (and the Alexa voice remote). Nothing beats slapping a HAL-9000 skin on your talky-robot, after all. Sites like SkinIt, DecalGirl, and Amazon itself have plenty of options, with prices ranging from $13 to $50.

If you really want to go the distance with awesome accessories for the Echo family, look below. We've gathered the best hardware to make your Echo/Dot/Tap stand out, work better, go mobile (even on the versions that aren't supposed to be), and much more.

Amazon Echo

Portable Battery Base for Echo$49.99 The only truly portable Echo device is the Tap, which has a battery inside. Or it was until this base for the standard Echo came along from Mission Cables. Slide the Echo into it, charge it up, and you've now got mobile Alexa. LEDs on the base let you know the battery status. The inside is coated with a silicon material to get a good grip on the speaker. Best of all, you don't need a new cable; it charges using the same power cable that comes with the Echo. (It does not work with the Dot.) Users report the battery lasts about 6 hours on a full charge. Save some money: It's $10 cheaper direct from the manufacturer. The competition from Smatree is even cheaper, but not as sleek.

co2CREA Travel Carrying Case for Amazon Echo$19.99 It's possible you'd want to take your Echo (with charger) on the road. Maybe you're moving and you threw away the box. You don't want to scratch up that sexy black cylinder. So you need a case, and this hardshell with a zipper top does the trick. There is even a separate section for the charger. It's not meant to be used while the Echo is in use—this case is all about protection on the road.

Fintie Protective Case for Amazon Echo$11.99 to $13.99 The other kind of case for your Echo is like a combination of a decorative skin coupled with a far more protective layer—the kind of thing you need if your family is constantly knocking over the Echo, rather than just chatting politely with the bot inside.

Finite's line of 31 different colors/designs even comes in at a price that's better than some paper or vinyl skins out there. The snap-on case is made of PU (aka vegan) leather with a microfiber inside so it won't scratch. A base snaps on and off and there is a carabiner clip and strap so you can carry it around with you if needed.

You'll find an incredibly similar product from MoKo with fewer designs at the same prices, and a zipper on the side rather than snaps to hold it in place. Just keep in mind, using one of these means blocking up to a quarter of the Echo's speaker.

Acrylic Speaker Guard For Amazon Echo$18.50 This is a stand that truly makes the Echo stand out, giving it a somewhat retro look—it's probably what Echo would have looked like had it been designed in the 1960s. It's basically just a blue plastic ring that surrounds the unit, providing a sturdier base at the same time. If you don't like the looks of this one in particular, look around on Amazon. There are similar versions with clear plastic, hexagonal rings, wooden bases, tiers at different heights, you name it. There is even a similar design for Echo Dot.

Sturdy Black Wall Mount for Amazon Echo by Wasserstein$15.99 An Amazon Echo is pretty perfect on a countertop or shelf, as long as it's within the sound of your voice. To hear you best, Amazon recommends keeping it about 8 inches from any wall. But if space is at a premium—or others keep blocking the Echo so it can't hear you—this subtle, metal wall mount may make all the difference. Screw it into the wall safely (use a stud finder to get the screws in tight), set the Alexa inside, and plug it in through the access opening at the bottom of the mount. It's out of the way and perhaps listening to you just a little better with the slight tilt. Other mounts will keep it more upright.

Mount for Amazon Echo (Ceiling, Counter-top, Wall)$24.99+ This is for hardcore users with some true home handyman knowledge. Etsy store The DesignerGirls sells the mount for multiple installations—like screwing your Echo down to the counter top—but obviously this is all about putting Echo on the ceiling. Doing so means probably never touching the buttons or the volume control ring on the Echo ever again, not to mention the hassle of running the cable to or through the ceiling (they'll sell you a 10- or 16-foot cable)—but maybe it's worth it to get that centralized Alexa placement. Also, maybe you're very tall. The mount comes in black or white, or you can ask for a custom color. The design features a special gripping ring inside that makes it impossible for the Echo to fall as long as the screws don't rip out of the ceiling. The store has a similar option for the Echo Dot starting at $16.99.

Amazon Tap

Amazon Tap Sling Cover$19.99 Amazon itself doesn't make a lot of covers for its Echo line, but it made an exception for the Tap, since the inherently portable speaker is going to get moved around a lot more than the rest.

What it designed is a simple silicone bumper that goes around the top and bottom, with a connector that leaves the Tap activation button (which you no longer need) exposed. Another connector between the ends in back has a cutout for the power button, Wi-Fi button, plus mini-USB and audio-out jacks. There is a little loop at the top on the back, so you can carry it with a finger, or hang it on a hook.

It comes in six colors (black, blue, green, white, magenta, and tangerine). Because the bottom of the Tap is covered, it doesn't work with the charging cradle.

Amazon Tap Case Sling Cover [Anti-Roll]$9.99 At this price, it's hard not to love this cover for the Tap. It's similar to Amazon's version, down to the hook at top for hanging it up, but features an octagonal design so you can set the Tap on its side without it rolling away. Plus, it leaves the bottom of the Tap open so it can still sit atop the charging cradle. And the manufacturer, CUVR, claims it's more shock resistant. It comes in three colors (black, gray and rose).

Available in nine colors/designs, ACdream's case for the Amazon Tap snaps on the sides with a mesh exposure for the speakers. There's also a snap-on bottom that's easily removed so you can put the Tap on the charging cradle as needed. It has hooks on either side to attach the holding strap for carrying. Colors include standard-looking colors like black, brown, purple, and red, plus five slightly more expensive "Crocodile" variants, all of them made with PU "vegan" faux-leather.

MoKo Carrying Case for Amazon Tap$9.99 to $10.99 MoKo skips the zipper on its Echo case for snaps on this PU leather Tap case. But it's still got nylon speaker vents and a microfiber inside to prevent scratches. The bottom also snaps off to use the charging cradle; a single carabiner hook on the side lets you attach a strap. MoKo offers the case in 12 colors and designs, including some called "Stained Glass" and "Versailles."

The incredibly similar Fintie Carrying Case for Amazon Tap looks like it came from the same manufacturer, but is priced from $10.99 to $12.99 and comes in 30 colors (including variants on "Stained Glass" and "Versailles." Hmm...)

Khanka EVA Carrying Storage Travel Hard Case Cover Bag for Amazon Tap$12.99 If you simply want to protect your Tap (and the charging cradle) while moving it, this little zip-up, hard-shell case with a handle strap will do the job. It even has enough room inside that it would fit a Tap with the Amazon Sling Cover on it.

Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon Echo Dot Case$14.99 Another Amazon-made case, this little ash tray-sized cover lets the little Echo Dot sit snugly inside the plastic "case" with its covering of either woven fabric for $14.99 or full-grain leather for $19.99 (you get three color options for each).

The Dot sits high enough so you can see the light ring around the top even from a side angle; there are cutouts/vents on the back for the power and audio-out cables, and on the bottom for the Dot's tiny speaker that no one should use (seriously, plug it into a nice speaker).

This case, like the vast majority here, only fits the second-generation Dot with the four buttons on top. (The first-generation Dot was 0.2 inches taller and only had two buttons on top, plus a volume control ring like the full Echo; it hasn't been sold since the second-gen came out in October 2016.)

Evo - an intelligent Battery Base$35 The quest to make Echos portable continues: Fremo's Evo base is a battery you connect to the Echo Dot by sticking a metal plate to the bottom (permanently), which then magnetically seals to the 0.25-pound Evo. Then a specialized connector on the back plugs them into each other. The 5200mAh battery reportedly lasts around 6 hours; the "grill" design on the upper edges of the Evo should allow for the sound to play from the Dot without interference. LEDs on the front of Evo indicate just how much charge is left.

eBoot Solid Metal Wall Mount$7.89 Available in black or white (to match the color of your second-gen Echo Dot), this simple wall mount is a steel bracket with a single screw hole. It probably looks best if you can orient it so the cable(s) come down from the top, but you you can slide the Dot in at any angle; all four control buttons will be easily exposed for use. Some people screw it right into an outlet cover using the existing screws. It weighs about 2.2 ounces. If you've got multiple Dots at home, eBoot sells a 2-pack for only $9.99.

BFF For Alexa$19.99 eachEcho Dot is arguably pretty stylish all on its own, but maybe your tastes run more toward 80s kitsch games, ceramic animals, or the supernatural. In that case, Little Artisan has a trio of statue stands available for the Echo Dot (first or second gen). There is a Cube Puzzle (don't mention the word Rubik!), a while ceramic-looking owl, and the skull that's pefect for putting Alexa into any fortune-teller's parlor. Cutouts on the back of each make it easy to hook up the Dot's cables. Each lists a feature to prevent pets and kids from knocking this over, though how you knock over a hockey puck is anyone's guess.

Aobelieve Ceiling Wall Mount Protective Holder for Amazon Echo Dot$16.99 for one, $29.99 for two Talk about combining all the best aspects of other cases: Aobelieve's mount is not only the acrylic circular retro stand specifically for a second-gen Dot, it also doubles as a wall or ceiling mount, complete with all the screws, anchors, and rubber feet you need to make it secure. The top ring turns a bit to release or secure the Dot as needed, even after you've mounted it, and provides extra illumination when the Dot's light ring comes to life as Alexa speaks.

AirsoftPeak Echo Dot Case$9.99 Suitable for either generation of Echo Dot, this hard-shell zipper case holds the Dot, charger, and cables in the top, with mesh between to prevent scratches. It even includes rubber bands to make the cables less of a mess. Outside, there is a strap and screw-lock carabiner to connect the case to your person. It comes in three colors; the black one has four zipper color options.

Fintie Protective Case for Echo Dot$10.99 to $12.99 Wondering where the decorative faux leather was for the Dot? Fintie has your back. This snap-on design for the second-gen Dot only comes in 12 colors/designs. It doesn't cover the bottom, leaving the speaker open for use.

Aobelieve Wooden Stand$16.99 This is a block of wood carved to look somewhat drifty, with a flattened top and an EPE foam non-stick center, with rubber feet on the top. Does it do anything other than make your Echo Dot (either generation) look like it's suitable for the desk of Captain Jack Sparrow? Nope, but maybe it's a perfect fit for your décor. It sits at a full 3.8 inches wide and 1.1 inches tall.

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About the Author

Eric narrowly averted a career in food service when he began in tech publishing at Ziff-Davis over 25 years ago. He was on the founding staff of Windows Sources, FamilyPC, and Access Internet Magazine (all defunct, and it's not his fault). He's the author of two novels, BETA TEST ("an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale"--Publishers' Weekly) an... See Full Bio

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